#LizUk

Last May 28 to June 03 I was in London.

#LizUk was the hashtag I felt like using in all of my posts that's why I've decided to use it as my title. This is my very first travel blog and I'm soo excited to share the places we've been to!

(P.S. I know it's been a while since I last posted and it took me some time to make this blog. Please bear with me Im new to this huhu)

Leaving Manila was kind of an air breather for me because I just started school at that time. I had to be absent for two meetings per subject and had to talk to my professors. In lieu to that, they were so understanding and agreed for me to take quizzes in advance and make-up seat works for the things I've missed or will be missing. (Shoutout to my great professors this term!! lol sip sip pala joke)

I'd like to thank my parents for bringing me to this beautiful place! Love you mom and dad!

Here's a list of the places that I've been to and some of their pictures!

1. Marble Arch London, UK

This structure is considered to be a London landmark. It was originally designed to be a state entrance to the cour d'honneur of Buckingham Palace in 1827. It was relocated in 1851 in between Park Lane, Bayswater Rd, and Cumberland Gate. We stayed at the Amba Hotel which was only 322m away from the structure. It was so near that we walk pass through it every time we go the Big Bus Tours bus stop.

2. Amba Hotel Marble Arch

Bryanston St. Marylebone London, W1H 7EH, UK

This is where we stayed for a week. It's a blurry photo cuz I took this from inside the bus and we always leave in a hurry and come back at night so this is the only photo I have. In this hotel, we had breakfast buffets e v e r y d a y!! (I'm not complaining I just love buffets haha). Overall, I had a great stay at this hotel! It was also within walking distance to a mall called PRIMARK, souvenir shops, and restaurant establishments like Pizza hut, Pret A Manger and Red Sun (Chinese).

3. The Tower of London St, Katherine's & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB, UK

The first photo is just one of the structures that's included inside the tower of London. Inside this castle, we weren't allowed to take photographs because of all the jewelries, crowns, armors, and a lot more that were displayed. Even Queen Elizabeth's crown during her coronation. The second photo was taken when we were walking inside the tower and on the right is a statue of a tower guard pointing his gun to a supposed "enemy".

4. Tower Bridge Tower Bridge, A100, UK

This bridge can be seen from the tower of London. Tower Bridge is actually one of my favorites because of the royal vibe that it gives me. It's like a bridge that you'd see in the story of Cinderella (my fave princess). Most people actually mistake this for the London bridge because of its architectural design (including me) and it's actually eye-catching, you won't miss it.

5. Windsor Castle Windsor SL4 1NJ, UK

This is the very last attraction during the Windsor Castle tour in Windsor, Berkshire. It's where the reigning queen of England lives as of this day. Windsor was clean and beautiful. Visitors were not allowed to enter the premises because the queen was inside.

6. London Eye Lambeth, London SE1 7PB, UK

(2nd photo: view from the capsule)

The line to ride the London eye was fast even though a lot of people were there on that day. Each capsule can accompany 20-25 people and it doesn't stop. It's a moving ferris wheel and we had to ride it while moving. It's also PWD friendly because it had an accessible ramp that could help those who are on wheelchairs. The second photo is a zoomed-in view from the capsule. It was a great experience overall. The ticket price is 26 Pounds (Php1,719.52 today)

*conversion is 1 Pound = Php66.14

7. Piccadilly Circus Piccadilly Circus, W1D 7ET, UK

Everyone was here. The streets were so busy with cars and people, it was such a lively place. I think this was the busiest area that we've been to at the time. It was crazy how empty some buildings were in other places that when I try to see inside the windows, no one can be seen maybe 2-3 people at most. Although here in Piccadilly, everyone was just hanging out and shopping. For me, I think Piccadilly of London is the Times Square of New York. The structure in the middle is called the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain some mistake it for Eros, a greek god.

8. University of Oxford Oxford, OX1 2JD, UK

If you're a fan of Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, you'd enjoy walking around this University. Some places were used in filming the movie. Like the field, corridors, stairs and walkways, dining hall and a lot more. It was a really long walk because the university has 38 Colleges, restaurants, dorms and it was like a secluded community where they have everything that they need inside. The second photo is where Bill Clinton's stayed when he was studying in the University.

9. Ripley's Believe it or Not The London Pavillion, 1 Piccadilly Circus, London W1J 0DA, UK

I've enjoyed this experience because some displays are interactive and kids would really enjoy this like the picture above was taken inside 'House of Mirrors'. Although, I would not suggest this if you're not really into weird things because there are displays like painted ANTS dressed like Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Princess Diana (which was the weirdest thing I've seen btw) displayed.

10. Harry Potter Studio Tour Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden WD25 7LR, UK

Inside this studio is every original prop used in making the movies of Harry Potter. Their original wardrobe, wands, classrooms, Harry's small room under the stairs, Pivet Drive, the paintings, the vault in Gringgott's bank, Diagon Alley, Hagrid and Dobby were there, the huge dining hall, the night bus, the Hogwarts Express the school itself, Hogwarts and all the things you could think of, it was there.

and of course,

11. Big Ben Westminster, London SW1A 0AA, UK

The Big Ben was HUGE. I was most excited to see this structure because it's actually the FIRST thing you'd want to see if you're in London. Here's a little trivia: The "Big Ben" isn't the clock but the bell that rings inside it. I took this photo while I'm on the bus (I was on top and in the last row so my view was pretty great!)

Aside from the 11 places I've described and captured, I've also seen the Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Chinatown, and The Shard. I'm going to post a gallery of some of the pictures that I haven't shared with you guys yet! I'll write the link down below if I've already published the gallery on my website! Stay tuned and subscribe!

And that's it!

That's the end of my very long and outdated travel blog. I hope that you guys had a great time reading some of my experiences while visiting some of the attractions in London, UK!

(P.S. if you have questions, please click the 'contact' tab and leave a message! thank you!)